Rowan County, N.C. — A North Carolina State Highway Patrol trooper was injured when the driver of an all-terrain vehicle attacked the trooper with the machine, officials said.

The incident occurred at 2 a.m. Saturday in Rowan County, according to a news release from the Highway Patrol. A state trooper was on routine patrol when he spotted and attempted to stop two ATVs in a travel lane on N.C Highway 153.

The ATV drivers stopped in a subdivision, and the trooper exited his vehicle and approached. As the trooper walked, one of the drivers drove at the trooper, hitting him. The driver then turned around and tried to hit the trooper a second time.

The trooper then shot at the suspect, which caused both the ATV drivers to flee the scene.

According to the Highway Patrol, the trooper received serious but non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Carolinas Medical Center-Northeast in Concord. His name was not released.

Investigators are asking for any information that might help identify the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call the Highway Patrol communications center at 1-800-233-3151.

Kyle ClarksonJan 25, 2016

It's illegal for these types of vehicles to travel on a highway.

Ashley MooreJan 25, 2016

There are a few driving ATVs on the road in the Falls River area.

Norman LewisJan 25, 2016

Shows a need for increased marksmanship under stress training. The ATV driver should technically, never have been able to flee the scene after the assault. The only effective gun control found so far in the history of firearms is being able to hit your target. If he had attacked me, he likely would have been carried out by the coroner. I bet the NRA could help. Anyone attempting to attack someone they know to be armed needs to be neutralized before they kill someone. My best hopes for the trooper. I will bet alcohol was involved. To Brian Hobson, no matter what the two people were up to, there is NO excuse for attempting to injure a law enforcement officer. Argue with them, maybe, at the most, but use deadly force to attack? NC Department of Public Safety employees are on duty to protect the public, not endure attacks by them.

Janet GhumriJan 24, 2016

The trooper has a duty to check out the situation. Due to the storm and the impassable roads, these two could have been trying to get emergency assistance. After determining that there's nothing wrong, he also has a duty to advise them to get off the roads. What should have been a simple interaction /advisement turned into a violent criminal act, and they deserve to get an appropriate punishment

Sonja YagelJan 24, 2016

I sincerely hope they find out who these hoodlums are and prosecuted to the fullest. The neighbors had complained about the noise these ATVs were making at 2AM that is why the trooper was there. Prayers for the trooper.

Brian HobsonJan 23, 2016

FYI - I was born in 1960 and have lived in the Raleigh area for almost 50 years. In my opinion, To Protect and Serve, this officer should have flashed his lights at the ATV drivers, given them a scare, then when they pulled off into the subdivision, he should have kept on driving. That (IMHO) is proper policing.

Brian HobsonJan 23, 2016

No, not kidding at all. LEO need to learn when to intervene and when to let people be free. This looks to me like a situation where LEO should have just let things be. Keep the Peace, right?

Brian HobsonJan 23, 2016

View quoted thread

You're kidding, right?

— Posted by Craig Elliott

Mark ClineJan 23, 2016

View quoted thread

Come on, why is the cop harassing people travelling in probably the only way possible, given the snow? I bet the road was completely deserted at 2 AM, except for this over-zealous officer. This is a situation where Law Enforcement should have just backed off & let people lead their lives.

— Posted by Brian Hobson

And that justifies their actions? In fact, since they responded in this manner, they were probably up to no good.

betsymillsapsJan 23, 2016

Brian Hobson how old are you and do you even understand how ignorant you sound. In North Carolina it is illegal to operate an ATV on a public roadway, even at 2am. The officer would have probably told rhem to just go home. If these ignorant undividuals had become injured then more lives would have been put in jeopardy to render aid to them. Where the heck could they have needed to go at 2am anyway except to do something they shouldn't. Maybe one day you might understand the bigger picture. Personally I hope all the people involved get arrested and do the maximum amount of time the law allows.